Letters to the Editor July 19
Careful where you plant trees
HENRY BLAND, Ojai
Planting a tree in Ojai is very sweet,
Watching it grow is a lovely treat.
But planting an oak where people walk,
Someday a limb will fall — kerpalk!
Letters to the Editor July 12
OjaiCARES makes a difference
RON & LINDA PHILLIPS, Ojai
One of the most inspiring things that makes Ojai, Ojai, is the passion and generosity of its citizens. This was vividly evident at the benefit for OjaiCARES at Topa Mountain Winery in May.
Letters to the Editor July 5
The nature of community theater
LEONARD KLAIF, President, Ojai Art Center Board of Trustees
Your June 21 edition included a “Thumbs Down” to the Ojai Art Center Theater for not paying its actors. Community theater does not pay its actors, not just the Art Center, but pretty much everywhere. That is the nature of community theater.
Letters to the editor June 28
Man’s kindness reinforces manners
KATIE SCHURMER, Ojai
I send two thumbs up to the anonymous man who bought my son Charlie and his friend Kevinbreakfast recently at Bonnie Lu's. When Charlie asked for the bill, the man who had already left, but was sitting behind their booth during breakfast, told the server to tell the boys that he was so impressed with how polite the boys were and wanted to treat their breakfast.
Letters to the Editor June 21
Hats off to Soule Park
MIKE DONOHUE, Ojai
There are so many people laughing, playing and having a great time at Soule Park Golf Course these days — the course and property shine more today than maybe ever. As we know, recreation, exercise and social connecting are three favorite pastimes of the citizens of Ojai. Over the last two years, the man in charge of Soule Park Golf Course, Keith Brown, has been focusing on providing the ultimate place to do just that. Keith and his amazing team took over the operation of Soule Park without much fanfare. But over the last year, things are really turning around. If you drive slow and roll down your windows as you pass the course, you will most likely hear golfers laughing their tails off or cheering on their playing partners (or possibly begging their golf ball to not drift off course).
Letters to the Editor May 31
No to charters
GLORIA VALLADOLID, Ojai
OUSD suffers from declining enrollment. Yet powerful people in Ojai want to exacerbate this decline by establishing a charter school in Upper Ojai. Charter schools are destroying our traditional public schools by taking our students away along with $10,000 per student.
Letters to the Editor May 17
Apology for near miss on Gridley
DEREK POULTNEY, Ojai
Thumbs down to myself for not seeing the nice couple hiking down Gridley Road until the last minute late afternoon Monday, May 13. I'm so sorry. I felt so horrible for startling you because I'm normally very conscientious of pedestrians and cyclists on roadways, especially where there are no sidewalks, because my wife and I walk down Gridley as well.
Letters to the Editor May 10
Ojai ground zero for climate change
PHIL WHITE, Ojai
The Ojai Valley is ground zero for the effects of climate change / global warming. The Board of Directors of Casitas Water can take important actions to do something about it.
The Thomas Fire, drought, and water shortages have the fingerprints of climate change and global warming all over them. The main solution to reversing this devastating problem is to quickly reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. What can be done locally?
Letters to the Editor May 3
Speeding is the problem
TERRY CAMPBELL, Ojai
On April 21, 2019 our neighbor and friend, Edith Rubaloff, was killed in a tragic accident trying to cross Maricopa Highway while in the crosswalk. The possibility of sun glare has been given as one possible reason for the accident. Unfortunately, this isn’t the first fatality that has occurred on Maricopa Highway. The biggest problem is the speeding that occurs on that stretch of the highway.
Letters to the Editor April 26
Community spirit much appreciated
NICHOLAS OATWAY, Ojai
Recently, I’ve been the grateful recipient of “community spirit” — that wonderful energy inside each individual that responds with helpful actions that benefit others.
One evening, my neighbor/friend and I attended an Art Center event, dropped off by our wives who were going to the movies.
Letters to the Editor April 19
Who will stand with our youth?
KRISTOFER YOUNG, DC, Ojai
As Earth Day approaches, I am both grateful, and if not remorseful, mindful, that I have been very slow to understand the critical importance of celebrating, and of deepening, our connection with our Mother Earth. Earth Day was first celebrated in 1970; 49 years later, I am trying to catch on and catch up.
I want to express my deepest appreciation to all of you who understood and supported Earth Day long before I began to wake up!